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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 22 March 2022
EU slams ‘war crimes’ in Ukraine but new sanctions unlikely

By LORNE COOK They include Russian Presi-
Associated Press dent Vladimir Putin, senior
BRUSSELS (AP) — European ministers and pro-Kremlin
Union countries on Monday oligarchs.
accused Russia’s military of Several “entities” compa-
committing war crimes in nies, banks, airlines and ship
Ukraine, but appeared un- builders have also been hit
likely to impose new sanc- in near record time. But the
tions on Moscow despite a issue of imposing restric-
clamor across Europe for tive measures on Russian
those responsible for at- energy remains extremely
tacks on civilians to be held sensitive, given the depen-
to account. dence of many EU coun-
With civilian deaths mount- tries on Russian natural gas.
ing in the besieged Ukrai- A group of countries led by
nian port city of Mariupol, Germany wants a pause
German Foreign Minister on new sanctions for now,
Annalena Baerbock high- amid concerns about high
lighted the increase in Rus- energy prices and fears
sian attacks on civilian in- that Russia might halt gas
frastructure, including hos- exports to Europe. Some
pitals and theaters. also want to save sanction
The “courts will have to de- Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, left, shares a word with German Foreign Minister Annalena ammunition for any new
cide, but for me these are Baerbock at a meeting of the EU foreign ministers at the Europa building in Brussels, Monday, and major war atrocity, like
clearly war crimes,” Baer- Mar. 21, 2022. Associated Press the use of chemical weap-
bock said. ons. “We are doing every-
EU foreign policy chief Jo- died in the siege, with some Irish Foreign Minister Simon we stop this,” he told re- thing to close loopholes in
sep Borrell said before he buried in mass graves. City Coveney said his country porters. “They want people the sanctions” that have al-
chaired a meeting of the authorities say about 10% is “certainly open to other held to account for the de- ready been agreed, Baer-
27-nation bloc’s foreign of the city’s population of mechanisms for account- cisions taken and the bru- bock said.
ministers in Brussels that 430,000 have fled and re- ability in terms of the atroci- tality that we have seen.” But Lithuanian Foreign Min-
“what’s happening in Mari- ported that some residents ties that are taking place Still, the imposition of a new ister Gabrielius Landsber-
upol is a massive war crime. were forced to go into Rus- in Ukraine right now.” Co- round of EU sanctions on gis, whose country borders
Destroying everything, sia against their will. veney said Russia’s inva- Russia asset freezes and Russia and Belarus, warned
bombarding and killing Borrell underlined that “war sion of Ukraine is probably travel bans appears un- against “sanctions fatigue.”
everybody in an indiscrimi- also has law.” The Interna- the first “war being played likely for now. Notorious for “We cannot get tired im-
nate manner. This is some- tional Criminal Court in the out on social media, where their often slow response to posing sanctions. We can-
thing awful.” Netherlands is gathering people see images hap- fast-moving international not get tired, offering assis-
The encircled southern city evidence about any pos- pening live, and they’re events, EU nations have ral- tance and help to Ukraine,”
on the Sea of Azov has seen sible war crimes in Ukraine, outraged by it.” lied in just over three weeks he said. Landsbergis said
some of the worst horrors of but Russia, like the United “This is driving a fury across since the invasion began the EU must target oil,
the war. City officials said States, doesn’t recognize the European Union within on Feb. 24 to slap sanctions which is a major source of
at least 2,300 people have the tribunal’s jurisdiction. the public as to why can’t on hundreds of people. revenue for Russia. q

Taliban announcement a clear sign girls returning to school

By KATHY GANNON would be allowed to return en attending university can al community watched as The Taliban have not re-im-
Associated Press to classes in all grades fol- take. But music, which had Taliban sent women home posed the burqa, though
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — lowing the Afghan new previously been taught, from work and closed pub- women are required to
Schools for all students will year, which was being cel- is no longer available. lic universities in all but 10 wear the hijab, which can
open this week, Afghani- ebrated Monday. While the Taliban have not provinces. They allowed be any covering including
stan’s Taliban-run Educa- The statement said classes banned music and musi- only boys to attend school a large shawl provided the
tion Ministry announced will start Wednesday. cians have occasionally beyond Grade 7. head is covered.q
Monday in the clearest sign The ministry statement does appeared on local TV, mu-
yet that girls will be allowed not refer specifically to girls sic is frowned upon by the
back in school. but it says: “The education hard-line religion-driven rul-
Girls have been denied ministry assures the nation it ers.
education beyond Grade is committed to the right to When they last ruled, mu-
6 since the Taliban swept education of all its citizens.” sic was banned, girls were
back into power last Au- The statement says the denied education and
gust. ministry is also “working women were not allowed
The international commu- hard to eliminate all kinds to work and were required
nity has been relentless in of discrimination,” without to wear the all encompass-
urging Afghanistan’s Tal- elaborating. It urges all Af- ing burqa. The Taliban were
iban rulers to allow girls to ghans to send their children ousted in 2001 by a U.S.-led
return to school. to schools or madrassas, coalition.
Earlier this year, the new rul- which are religious educa- After sweeping back into
ers opened up universities tional facilities. power last August following
for women, although class- The Taliban rulers have not America’s chaotic end to Afghan girls students attend school classes in a primary school
es are gender segregated. imposed restriction on the 20 years of war in Afghani- in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, March 27, 2021.
They also promised girls types of courses that wom- stan, a nervous internation- Associated Press